Folding collapsible storage box

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a folding collapsible storage box, which includes folding collapsible box body having a folding bottom plate detachably attached to its bottom wall, and L-shaped,  -shaped, collapsible hollow column-like and/or curved partition members selectively installed in the box body to divide the holding space of the box body into multiple compartments for keeping different items, each partition member having two opposite ends pivoted to the upright peripheral walls of the box body and one or multiple folding lines through which the respective partition member is curved and closely attached to the upright peripheral walls of the box body for folding with the box body into a collapsed flat condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to storage boxes and more particularly, to a folding collapsible storage box that can be folding into a collapsed flat manner to reduce the dimension when not in use.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Storage boxes are intensively used in every family for keeping small clothes or other small items. A storage box for this purpose may have only one storage chamber, and may be made folding collapsible. When a folding collapsible storage box is not in use, it can be folded into a collapsed status, reducing the dimension.

To classify storage items in a storage box, a partition structure is necessary. Therefore, partition plates prepared from a hard material such as plastics, wood or metal are installed in storage boxes to divide the holding space of each storage box into multiple compartments for keeping different storage items. When partition plates are connected to the inside of a folding collapsible storage box, the size of the folding collapsible storage box is fixed and not changeable. When wishing to collapse the folding collapsible storage box, the partition plates must be removed and separately stored. This arrangement results in inconvenience in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a folding collapsible storage box, which eliminates the drawbacks of the aforesaid prior art design.

According to one aspect of the present invention, folding partition members are directly connected to the upright peripheral walls of the box body and alternatively set between an extended status where the partition members divide the holding space of the box body into multiple compartments for keeping different items, and a received status where the partition members are respectively closely attached to the upright peripheral walls of the box body and foldable with the box body into a collapsed flat manner.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the box body and the partition members can be made of hard and strong plate members prepared from wood, metal, plastic or hard paper and then wrapped with a cloth covering, and a folding line is formed of a part of the cloth covering between each two plate members. By means of the folding lines, the box body and the partition members can be folded up and set in a collapsed flat manner.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the box body is a rectangular container, having a rectangular bottom panel and four upright peripheral walls respectively extending from the four sides of the rectangular bottom panel and connected to one another. Further, two partition members are set in the box body, each having one folding line on the middle and its two opposite end portions respectively connected to the four upright peripheral walls of the rectangular box body. The two partition members can be settable between an extended position where the folding lines of the two partition members are abutted against each other and the two partition members divide the holding space of the box body into four compartments, and a received position where the partition members are closely attached to the upright peripheral walls of the box body and the folding lines of the partition members are respectively attached to diagonal corners of the box body.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the box body is a rectangular container, having a rectangular bottom panel and four upright peripheral walls respectively extending from the four sides of the rectangular bottom panel and connected to one another, and two plate-like first partition members and one hollow rectangular column-like second partition member are set in the box body to divide the holding space of the box body into four compartments. The first partition members each have a folding line on the middle and its two opposite end portions respectively connected to two adjacent upright peripheral walls of the rectangular box body. The second partition member have four sides connected to one another and one of the four sides connected to the folding line of one first partition member.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the box body is a rectangular container, having a rectangular bottom panel and four upright peripheral walls respectively extending from the four sides of the rectangular bottom panel and connected to one another, and two first partition plates and two second partition plates are set in the box body. The first partition plates each have a folding line disposed on the middle and vertically extending to top and bottom sides thereof and the respective two opposite end portions respectively connected to two adjacent upright peripheral walls of the rectangular box body. The second partition plates each have two folding lines arranged in parallel and vertically extending to top and bottom sides thereof and the respective two opposite ends portions respectively connected to two opposite upright peripheral walls of the box body and arranged at two sides in a staggered manner.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the box body is a rectangular container, having a rectangular bottom panel and four upright peripheral walls respectively extending from the four sides of the rectangular bottom panel and connected to one another, and one first partition plate and one second partition plate are set in the box body. The first partition plate has a folding line disposed on the middle and vertically extending to its top and bottom sides, and its two opposite end portions respectively connected to two adjacent upright peripheral walls of the rectangular box body. The second partition plate has two folding lines arranged in parallel and vertically extending to its top and bottom sides, and its two opposite ends portions respectively connected to two opposite upright peripheral walls of the box body.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the box body is a rectangular container, having a rectangular bottom panel and four upright peripheral walls respectively extending from the four sides of the rectangular bottom panel and connected to one another, and two partition members are connected in parallel between two opposite upright peripheral walls of the box body. Each partition member has two folding lines arranged in parallel and vertically extending to its top and bottom sides, and its two opposite ends portions respectively connected to two opposite upright peripheral walls of the box body.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the box body is a circular container, and curved partition members are set in the boxy body. The curved partition members each have two end portions, two arched portions connected in series between the two opposite end portions, and a folding line connected between the two arched portions. When applying a pressure to the folding line of one partition member, the extending direction of the arched portions of the respective partition member is reversed, and therefore the configuration of the compartments defined in the box body by the partition members is relatively changed.

Further, the end portions of the partition members can be respectively stitched to the upright peripheral walls of the box body in such a manner that the partition members are twistable relative to the box body.

Further, the end portions of the partition members can be respectively pivoted to the upright peripheral walls of the box body so that the partition members are rotatable relative to the box body.

The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding collapsible storage box in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the folding collapsible storage box of the first embodiment of the present invention used in a cabinet.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the folding collapsible storage box in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing the folding procedure of the folding collapsible storage box in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention (I).

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing the folding procedure of the folding collapsible storage box in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention (II).

FIG. 6 is a top plain view of a folding collapsible storage box in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing showing the folding procedure of the folding collapsible storage box in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top plain view of a folding collapsible storage box in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing showing the folding procedure of the folding collapsible storage box in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention (I).

FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing showing the folding procedure of the folding collapsible storage box in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention (II).

FIG. 11 is a top plain view of a folding collapsible storage box in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing showing the folding procedure of the folding collapsible storage box in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention (I).

FIG. 13 is a schematic drawing showing the folding procedure of the folding collapsible storage box in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention (II).

FIG. 14 is a top plain view of a folding collapsible storage box in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic drawing showing the folding procedure of the folding collapsible storage box in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic top plain view of a folding collapsible storage box in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic top plain view of a folding collapsible storage box in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, a folding collapsible storage box in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown a folding collapsible box body 1, and at least one partition plate 2 mounted in the box body 1. The box body 1 is a rectangular container having a hard flat rectangular bottom wall and four upright peripheral walls 11 extending along the four sides of the bottom wall and connected to one another and defining with the bottom wall a rectangular holding space. Each upright peripheral wall 11 is formed of two hard plate members prepared from wood, metal, plastics, or hard paper and wrapped with a cloth covering, having a folding line 12 formed of a part of the cloth covering and vertically disposed on the middle between the two hard plate members. The partition device 2 is mounted in the box body 1, dividing the rectangular holding space into multiple small compartments for keeping socks, handkerchiefs, underwear, and other small items. The folding collapsible storage box can be used in a cabinet 4 (see FIG. 2). Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 1 again, the number of the at least one partition plate 2 according to this embodiment is 2, and the two partition plates 2 foldable. These two foldable partition plates 2 are symmetrically arranged inside the box body 1, each having two distal ends 21 respectively connected to the folding lines 12 of the box body 1 and a folding line 22 vertically disposed on the middle and extending to the top and bottom sides. The two partition plates 2 are movable between the received position and the extended position. When the two partition plates 2 are in the extended position, the folding lines 22 of the two partition plates 2 are abutted against each other, and therefore the two partition plates 2 divide the holding space of the box body 1 into four compartments (see FIG. 1).

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 and FIG. 3 again, when collapsing the folding collapsible storage box, the two partition plates 2 are moved apart in the box body I in reversed directions from the to the extended position toward the received position to have the folding lines 22 of the two partition plates 2 be respectively attached to two diagonal corners of the box body 1 (see FIG. 3), and then the folding lines 12 of two opposite upright peripheral walls 11 of the box body 1 are moved toward each other (see FIG. 4) to have the box body 1 be folded into a flat manner (see FIG. 5).

Referring to FIG. 3 again, a folding bottom plate 3 may be set in the box body 1 to reinforce the strength of the box body 1. The folding bottom plate 3 has a folding line 31 transversely disposed on the middle and extending to two opposite sides.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a folding collapsible storage box in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment the folding collapsible storage box is comprised of a folding collapsible rectangular box body 1, four partition plates 2, and a folding hollow rectangular partition column 2A. The partition plates 2 are arranged in the four corners inside the box body 1, each having two distal ends 21 respectively connected to the upright peripheral walls 11 of the box body 1 and a folding line 22 vertically disposed on the middle and extending to the top and bottom sides. The folding hollow rectangular partition column 2A has one of the four angles thereof connected to the folding line 22 of one partition plate 2. The partition plates 2 are movable between the received position and the extended position. When the partition plates 2 are in the extended position, the folding hollow rectangular partition column 2A with its four angles respective abutted to the folding lines 22 of the partition plates 2 (actually, one angle of the folding hollow rectangular partition column 2A is connected to the folding line 22 of one partition plate 2), and therefore the partition plates 2 and the folding hollow rectangular partition column 2A divide the holding space of the box body 1 into 9 compartments (see FIG. 6). When not in use, the partition plates 2 are moved toward the corners of the box body 1, and the folding hollow rectangular partition column 2A is collapsed and receive to the associating partition plate 2 (see FIG. 7), and then the box body 1 with the partition plates 2 and the folding hollow rectangular partition column 2A are folded into a collapsed flat condition.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a folding collapsible storage box in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the folding collapsible storage box is comprised of a folding collapsible rectangular box body 1, two first partition plates 2, and two second partition plates 2B. The first partition plates 2 are similar to the partition plates 2 of the aforesaid first and second embodiments, having a folding line on the middle. The second partition plates 2B each have two folding lines that divide the respective second partition plate into three equal portions. Therefore, each first partition plate 2 can be set in an extended status showing a L-shaped profile (see FIG. 8), or folded into a flat manner; each second partition plate 2B can be set in an extended status showing a

-shaped profile (see FIG. 8), or folded into a flat manner. The two first partition plates 2 are arranged in two diagonal corners inside the body box, with the respective two distal ends 21 respectively connected to two adjacent upright peripheral wall of the rectangular box body 1. The two second partition plates 2B are arranged in the rectangular box body 1 at two sides in a staggered manner, with the respective two distal ends 21 respectively connected to the two opposite long upright peripheral walls of the rectangular box body 1. When folding collapsible storage box is not in use, the first partition plates 2 and the second partition plates 2B are folded up and closely attached to the upright peripheral walls of the rectangular box body 1 (see FIGS. 9 and 10), and then the rectangular box body 1 is folded up to reduce the dimension.

FIGS. 11-13 illustrate a folding collapsible storage box in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the folding collapsible storage box is comprised of a folding collapsible rectangular box body 1, a first partition plate 2, and a second partition plate 2C. The first partition plate 2 is similar to the partition plate of the aforesaid first embodiment that has a folding line on the middle. Further, the first partition plate 2 is set in one corner inside the rectangular box body 1 with its two distal ends respectively connected to two adjacent upright peripheral walls of the rectangular box body 1. The second partition plate 2C has two folding lines. Further, the second partition plate 2C has its two distal ends respectively connected to two opposite upright peripheral walls of the rectangular box body 1. The first partition plate 2 can be set in an extended status showing a L-shaped profile (see FIG. 11), or folded into a flat manner. The second partition plate 2B can be set in an extended or received status showing a

-shaped profile (see FIG. 11). When the first partition plate 2 and the second partition plate 2C are extended out, they divide the holding space of the rectangular box body 1 into one big compartment and two small compartments (see FIG. 11). When the first partition plate 2 and the second partition plate 2C are set in the received position and respectively closely attached to the inner surfaces of the associating upright peripheral walls of the rectangular box body 1, the folding collapsible storage box can then be folded into a flat manner to reduce the dimension.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a folding collapsible storage box in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the folding collapsible storage box is comprised of a folding collapsible rectangular box body 1, and two partition plates 2C. The partition plates 2C according to this fifth embodiment are similar to the second partition plate of the aforesaid fourth embodiment. The two partition plates 2C are arranged in parallel inside the rectangular box body 1 with the respective two distal ends 21 respectively connected to two opposite upright peripheral walls of the rectangular box body 1. The two partition plates 2C divide the holding space of the rectangular box body 1 into three rectangular compartments. When not in use, the partition plates 2C are turned in reversed directions and respectively closely attached to the other two opposite upright peripheral walls of the rectangular box body 1, and then the rectangular box body 1 with the partition plates 2C are folded into a flat manner to reduce the dimension.

FIG. 16 is a schematic top plain view of a folding collapsible storage box in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the folding collapsible storage box is comprised of a box body 1 and a plurality of partition members 2. The box body 1 is a circular container. The partition members 2 are curved members. Each partition member has a folding line 22 connected between two arched portions thereof, and two ends 21 extending in reversed directions and connected to the peripheral wall of the box body 1. The user can apply a pressure to the folding line 22 to reverse the extending direction of the arched portions (see the dotted lines shown in FIG. 16), changing the configuration of the compartments defined in the box body 1 by the partition members 2.

Further, each partition plate or member can be connected to the peripheral wall(s) of the box boxy by stitches. Alternatively, socket members 13 can be fixedly provided inside the box body 1 to receive the ends 21 of the partition plates 2, as shown in FIG. 17.

In the aforesaid various embodiments, the ends of the partition members may be hinged or pivotally connected to the upright peripheral walls of the box body. Alternatively, the ends of the partition members may be fixedly connected to the upright peripheral walls of the box body in such a manner that the partition members are twistable relative to the box body.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 

1. A folding collapsible storage box comprising: a box body, said box body comprising a bottom wall and a plurality of upright peripheral walls extending along side edges of said bottom wall and defining with said bottom wall a holding space; a bottom plate attached to said bottom wall inside said box body; and a plurality of partition members mounted in said box body to divide said holding space into multiple compartments, said partition members each comprising two opposite end portions connected to said upright peripheral walls of said box body, a plurality of plate portions connected between said end portions, and a folding line connected between each two plate portions of the respective partition member for enabling the respective partition member to be alternatively set between an extended position apart from said upright peripheral walls of said box body and a received position closely attached to said upright peripheral walls of said box body.
 2. The folding collapsible storage box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said box body comprises two folding lines respectively formed in two opposite upright peripheral walls of said box body and vertically extending to top and bottom sides of the associating upright peripheral walls.
 3. The folding collapsible storage box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said box body is a rectangular container, having a rectangular bottom panel and four upright peripheral walls respectively extending from the four sides of said rectangular bottom panel and connected to one another; the number of said partition members is 2, and the two partition members each have one folding line on the middle and the respective two opposite end portions respectively connected to the four upright peripheral walls of said rectangular box body, said two partition members being settable between an extended position where the folding lines of said two partition members are abutted against each other and the two partition members divide the holding space of said box body into four compartments and a received position where said partition members are closely attached to said upright peripheral walls of said box body and the folding lines of said partition members are respectively attached to diagonal corners of said box body.
 4. The folding collapsible storage box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said box body is a rectangular container, having a rectangular bottom panel and four upright peripheral walls respectively extending from the four sides of said rectangular bottom panel and connected to one another; said partition members include two plate-like first partition members and one hollow rectangular column-like second partition member, said first partition members each having a folding line on the middle and the respective two opposite end portions respectively connected to two adjacent upright peripheral walls of said rectangular box body, said second partition member having four sides connected to one another and one of the four sides connected to the folding line of one of said first partition members.
 5. The folding collapsible storage box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said box body is a rectangular container, having a rectangular bottom panel and four upright peripheral walls respectively extending from the four sides of said rectangular bottom panel and connected to one another; said partition members include two first partition plates and two second partition plates, said first partition plates each having a folding line disposed on the middle and vertically extending to top and bottom sides thereof and the respective two opposite end portions respectively connected to two adjacent upright peripheral walls of said rectangular box body, said second partition plates each having two folding lines arranged in parallel and vertically extending to top and bottom sides thereof and the respective two opposite ends portions respectively connected to two opposite upright peripheral walls of said box body and arranged at two sides in a staggered manner.
 6. The folding collapsible storage box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said box body is a rectangular container, having a rectangular bottom panel and four upright peripheral walls respectively extending from the four sides of said rectangular bottom panel and connected to one another; said partition members include one first partition plate and one second partition plate, said first partition plate having a folding line disposed on the middle and vertically extending to top and bottom sides thereof and the respective two opposite end portions respectively connected to two adjacent upright peripheral walls of said rectangular box body, said second partition plate having two folding lines arranged in parallel and vertically extending to top and bottom sides thereof and the respective two opposite ends portions respectively connected to two opposite upright peripheral walls of said box body.
 7. The folding collapsible storage box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said box body is a rectangular container, having a rectangular bottom panel and four upright peripheral walls respectively extending from the four sides of said rectangular bottom panel and connected to one another; the number of said partition members is 2, and the two partition members are connected in parallel between two opposite upright peripheral walls of said box body, each having two folding lines arranged in parallel and vertically extending to top and bottom sides thereof and the respective two opposite ends portions respectively connected to two opposite upright peripheral walls of said box body.
 8. The folding collapsible storage box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said box body is a circular container; said partition members are curved partition members, each having two arched portions connected in series between the two opposite end portions thereof and a folding line connected between said two arched portions such that applying a pressure to the folding line of one of said partition members, the extending direction of the arched portions of the respective partition member is reversed, thereby changing the configuration of the compartments defined in said box body by said partition members.
 9. The folding collapsible storage box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end portions of said partition members are respectively fixedly connected to the upright peripheral walls of said box body in such a manner that said partition members are twistable relative to said box body.
 10. The folding collapsible storage box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end portions of said partition members are respectively pivoted to the upright peripheral walls of said box body so that said partition members are rotatable relative to said box body.
 11. The folding collapsible storage box as claimed in claim 10, wherein said box body comprises a plurality of socket members respectively fixedly provided at said upright peripheral walls inside said box body; the end portions of said partition members are respectively pivotally coupled to the socket members of said box body. 